Vending machine



P 2, 1941- c. GABRIELSEN v 2,254,841

VEND' MACHINE Filed May'5, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1941- c. GABRIELSEN2,254,841

' VENDING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 2,1941 VENDING MACHINE Christian Gabrielsen, Bellevllle, N. 1., assignorto Rowe Manufacturing 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 271,844

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines and moreparticularly in the article storing and delivering mechanisms of suchmachines.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a machine of the classindicated, additional storage space for certain kinds of articles to bevended. It is a further object of the invention to provide inconjunction with such reserve storage space or spaces means fordispensing along with articles to be vended, additional articles (as, ina cigarette vending machine, to provide for the dispensing of matchesalong with the packages of cigarettes and to achieve this object whileproviding the maximum possible reserve storage space in a machine ofconventional dimensions.

With these and other objects which will appear in the following fulldescription in mind, the invention consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts and features of construction which will first bedescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointedout more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the article storage portion and part ofthe delivery means of a vending machine embodying the invention anddesigned for dispensing packages of cigarettes and book matches;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the side plate of thecontainer unit removed so as to reveal certain internal features ofconstruc-' tion and showing particularly the match dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing particularly .thecigarette dispensing mechanism together with the mechanism for handlinga reserve supply of cigarettes;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the position of the partswhen a reserve supply has been directed into a column for deliverytherefrom;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of the mechanism for handling thereserve supply showing this mechanism in positions just prior todirecting this supply into a column to be replenished;

Fig. 7 is' a rear elevation of the machine of Fig. 1 with parts removed;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view showing a portion of Fig. 3 on enlarged scale andrevealing certain details of the control mechanism for the reservesupply container associated with one of the cigarette storage columns;and

Figs. 10 and 11 are horizontal sections taken on the lines Ill-I0 andII-II of Fig. 9 respectively. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8 the invention is shown asapplied to a machine having eight main containers I for storing stacksof cigarette packages 2 and dispensing said packages successively fromthe bottom of the stacks. As will be understood, each of the containersI will be loaded with a stack of packages of a single kind or brand, andthe supplies of the various difierent kinds or brands to be sold will beloaded in the various containers I to suit the convenience of theoperator of the machine. These storage containers are formed by verticalpartitions 3 which separate one column from another and are providedwith front flanges 4 serving to retain the stacks of packages 2 againstforward movement. The rear lower wall of all columns I .is formed by aplate 5 extending across the machine. The upper portions of the columnsof packages 2 are retained against rearward movement, in the case ofthose columns which are not provided with reserve supplies of articles,by angles 6 which also serve to provide part of the auxiliary storagespaces for matches which will be described later in more detail. Theupper portions of these columns which are provided with reserve suppliesof packages are retained against rearwardmovement by flexible strips Ipivotally mounted on partition plates 3 as at B and serving also toretain the reserve supplies of articles for these stacks against forwardmovement. To the rear of the machine the upper portions of partitions 3are joined, as by welding to a plate 9 in back of the match storagecompartments and a plate In in back of the reserve supply compartments,the whole structure being solidly held together by the parts alreadydescribed and by a front cross brace II, as best shown in Fig. 8.

The delivery mechanism may be of any desired type and is illustrateddiagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 4 as comprising a plunger I2 posi-,tioned below each of the compartments I and carrying a supporting tableI3. This mechanism, as illustrated, is generally of the type shown incopending Rowe and Gabrielsen application Serial No. 26,734 (patentedMay 23, 1939, No. 2,159,603) and is operated by pulling a plunger to thedotted line position of Fig. 1 ,permitting the associated column ofpackages 2 to descend so that it rests upon a bed-plate I4 in positionfor ejection under plate 5 by the table I3 upon return of the plunger t0the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

i As in the Rowe and Gabrielsen application referred to, each of theplungers I2 is shown as provided with a depending abutment l5 in drivingrelation to a cross bar I6 which may be connected with coin controllooking mechanism and which, through the connections shown in Fig. 1,serves to operate the match dispensing and reserve supply controlmechanism in the present machine. This mechanism is controlled by anactuating shaft journaled in the end walls of the unit and bearing aratchet wheel |8 having, in the embodiment shown, twelve teeth, andarranged to be rotated one tooth interval, or 30, at each operation ofany of the plungers l2. This rotation 'is brought about by a lever |9pivotally mounted on the end wall of the unit at and biased rearwardlyby a spring 2|, the lower end of the lever l9 being connected at 22 toone end of a link 23 whose other end is connected to the bar l6 at 24.Lever l9 carries on pivot 25 a dog 26 biased toward ratchet Wheel I8 bya spring 21. Pulling any of the plungers I2 to the dotted line positionof Fig. 1 accordingly, through bar Hi, link 23, lever l9 and dog 26,will advance the ratchet wheel |'8 one tooth interval. Upon return ofthe plunger to the full line position of Fig. l the ratchet wheel willbe stopped by a pawl 28 pivotally mounted at 29 on the end plate of theunit and biased by spring 30 toward the ratchet wheel.

The four reserve storage compartments, shown best in Figs. 8, 4 and 8,are defined by the partitions 3 and flexible strips 1 already referredto and by back plates 3| shown as of channel form and pivotally mountedat 32 upon the partitions 3. In the machine as illustrated, the front ormain storage compartments are capacitated to hold some twenty-eightpackages of cigarettes and the associated storage compartments arecapacitated to hold some twenty packages of cigarettes, these reservestacks resting upon an angle 5 formed with the back plate 5 previouslyreferred to.

Each of the back plates 3| for the reserve compartments carries a spring33 pressing against the rear wall l0 and biasing the back plate towardthe front of the machine. Prior to the time when the associated column Iis depleted to the predetermined level at which it is desired tointroduce into it the reserve supply, the back plate 3| is held back inthe position of Fig. 3 by a projection 34 at its lower end which engagesa stop 35. When this stop is loweredout of thepath 'of projection 34spring 33 forces the back plate 3|, the reserve supply of cigarettes infront of it, and the associated strip 1 forwardly of the machine intothe position of Fig. 4, thus introducing the reserve supply into theadjacent main column Plate 3| is stopped in the position of Fig. 4 byprojection 34 at one side and a projection 36 at the other, theseprojections striking plate 5 in that position.

pivoted to it at 4| and normally free to swing, this member having a toe42 by means of which stop may be pulled down against spring 39 forreleasing plate 3|. Mounted on shaft opposite each of the toes 42 is atwelve-toothed star wheel 43 for the purpose of depressing theassociated stop 35. When the associated front column, however, has notbeen depleted to the predetermined level the various parts will occupythe full line position of Fig. 9 and star wheel 43 when rotated by thepulling of the plunger will merely pass from the full line position ofFig. 9 to the corresponding position 30 in advance, passing through theposition of Fig. 5 and merely swinging member to the right about itspivot 4| without efiecting any lowering of stop 35.

The means for operably connecting star wheel 43 with stop 35 is similarin certain particulars to that disclosed in copending Greene andGabrielsen application Serial No. 231,290, and the present invention inthese respects is an improvement on the invention there disclosed. Amember 44 pivotally mounted in brackets 38 at 45 and having a toe 46adapted to extend into column I through an aperture 4'! in plate 5 isprovided, this member being biased toward such a position (dotted linesin Fig. 9) by its own weight but held in the full line position of Fig.9 when the column of cigarettes is of sufilcient height to extend abovethe toe 46. The other end of member 44 is formed with a stop 48 whichwill abut against plate 5 in the position of Fig. 6, and with a surface49 in-the path of member 40 when member 44 is in the said position.When, therefore, a column of cigarettes I has been depleted to the pointwhere its top is below toe 46, member 44 will rotate by its own weightfrom the full line position of Fig. 9 to the dotted line position ofthat figure. The next operation of any of the plungers will advance theassociated star wheel 43 through one tooth interval, depressing stop 35through member 40 and toe 42 as shown best in Fig. 6 and releasing plate3| so that the rereverse stack is introduced into the adjacent frontcolumn l as shown in Fig. 4. The release of toe 42 from star Wheel 43 isprovided for by forming the surface 50 of member 40 which engages themember 44 so that it passes surfaces 49 thereon prior to the depressionof stop 35 to its -fullest extent, thus releasing member 40 from member44 and permitting star wheel 43 to push member 49 frontward so that toe42 clears star wheel 43 and the parts return to the position of Fig. 9(dotted lines) As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 4, strips 1 are ofsuch length as to terminate just above toes 46 and in consequence arefree to move forerated by shaft II at each operation of any of thedelivery plungers but connected to a given stop 35 only upon depletionof the associated front column to av predetermined level. 'As shown bestin Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 9 to 11, stop 35 is pivoted at 31 in a bracket 38mounted on the wall 5 and biased upwardly by a spring 39 attached towall It). It carries a member 40 wardly to the position of Fig. 4 whenthe reserve stack is introduced into the associated main container Theauxiliary storage and delivery mechanism for each column is generallysimilar to that provided in application No. 26,734, previously referredto, and consists in separate supporting and delivery means for eachcolumn of matches, with which is associated, however, operating meansassociated with the shaft Positioned below each of the match columns 5|is a lever 52, (Figs.

2 and 7), these levers being rotatably mounted on a shaft 53 carried inbrackets 54 formed inplate 5 and biased rearwardly by springs 56attached to bell crank arms 51 on thelevers and a rearwardly'projectingangle 58 at the bottom of plate 5. The upper ends of lever 52 serve. tosupport a stack of books of matches 59 in each of the columns when inany of the three righthand positions shown in Fig. 2 and permit thestack of matches to descend and rest upon support $0 when in the extremeleft-hand position indicated in Fig. 2. Motion of any of the levers 52from the right-hand or rearward position of Fig. 2 to the left-hand orfrontward position indicated in that figure and return to the rearwardor right-hand position will accordingly permit the stack of matches 59to descend until it rests upon support 60 and will then eject thelowermost pack of the stack. As shown best in Figs. 2 and 7, plate-9 isformed at its bottom with an upper guide member SI and the supports 50are formed in a plate 62 curved to provide a similar lower guide memberand slotted between the match supporting portions 50 formed therein toaccommodate the operative upper ends of levers 52, these ends beingU-shaped as shown best in Fig. 7. Fixed to shaft l! for rotationtherewith opposite each of the levers 52 is a cam wheel 63 having threecam surfaces 64 adapted to push the lever 52 from the extreme rearwardposition to extreme frontward position as shown in Fig. 2 by rotationthrough an arc of 120. Opposite cam wheel 63 the lever 52 is formed withan opening 65 so that when the lever 52 is pressed forward as far as itwill go the tip of the cam 64 is released, passing into the opening 55and permitting lever 52 to snap back to the rearward position again,thus delivering the package of matches as previously described. As theshaft i1 is rotated, in the machine illustrated, through 30 upon eachoperation of a delivery plunger l2, four such operations are required torotate the shaft through the 120 necessary to advance one of the camsurfaces 64 from its rearward to its frontward position, carrying theassociated lever 52 through its operative cycle and bringing the nextcam surface 64 into position for operation by the next four movements ofplunger l2. As best shown in Fig. 2, the cam wheels 63 are fixed toshaft H in four angular positions separated from each other by an angleof 30. In consequence, the four levers 52 will be operated in successionor cyclic order, each ejecting a package of matches at every fourthoperation or the cigarette delivery mechanism.

As is apparent, the star and cam wheel ar- I rangement of the inventionior operating the reserve cigarette supply containers and the matchdelivery containers may readily be adapted to machines having variousdifierent numbers or such containers. Each of the match containersrequires one earn wheel provided with any convenient number of camsurfaces spaced at suitable angular intervals around the shaft andratchet mechanism on the shaft for advancing it in angular steps equalto the angle between cam surfaces on each cam wheel, divided by thetotal number of cam wheels. It is desirable that the reserve supply ofcigarettes be introduced into the front column associated therewith uponthe next operation of any of the cigarette delivery columns and thisobject is achieved by providing the star wheels associated with thereserve supply containers with teeth spaced at an angle equal to thisangle interval. The machine will ordi- '.narily be advantageouslydesigned to hold a number of books of matches equal to its cigarettepackage holding capacity, the required number of columns of book matchesdepending upon the space provided below them for the operating mechanismdescribed, upon the height of the cigarette columns, and upon the numberof such columns. In the machine illustrated the cigarette packagecapacity is about 300 and equal match capacity is provided by four matchholding columns as shown.

As will be observed, the match delivery and reserve supply containersare provided withoutany increase in the vertical dimensions of themachine as the reserve supply match containers and associated mechanismare positioned in back of the cigarette columns I, adjacent theirupperportions. The depth or thickness oi the machine is not increased asthese mechanisms occupy a space in the machine required for the electionor thecigarettes for delivery to the customer. In consequence, a machineof materially larger capacity and flexibility in operation has beenprovided without in any way increasing its dimensions or complicatingits operation.

I claim: I

1. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, an alinedseries of main containers for stacksof articles, selectively operabledelivery means ior dispensing articles successively from the bottoms oistacks in said containers, an alined series of reserve containers, eachadjacent the upper portion of one of said main containers, a movablepartition between each of said reserve containers and the adjacent maincontainer, a shifting mechanism for each reserve container forintroducing a stack of articles therefrom into the adjacent maincontainer, common actuating means for said shifting mechanisms, locatedbelow said series of reserve containers and operable by said deliverymeans at each operation thereof, means associated with each reservecontainer for connecting its shifting mechanism with said actuatingmeans, comprising a control member adapted to extend into the adjacentmain compartment at a level below the endo! said partition and withheldby an article present in said main compartment at its evel.

2. In a machine or the class described, and in combination, an alinedseries of main containers for stacks of articles, selectively operabledelivery means for dispensing'articles successively from the bottoms ofstacks in said containers, an alined series of reserve containers, eachadjacent the'upper portion of one of said main containers, a shiftingmechanism for each reserve container for introducing a stack of articlestherefrom 'into the adjacent main container, 9. cross shaft below saidreserve containers carrying a star wheel for each reserve container,means operable by said delivery means for rotating said shaft throughone tooth interval at each operation or said delivery means, a pivotallymounted connecting member for each said shiiting mechanism having a toeextending into the tooth spaces of the associated star wheel and meansfor holding said connecting member against said star wheel and therebycausing an operative translational movement thereof, comprising amovable control member having an abutment and an arm, urged toward aposition where said abutment prevents pivoting movement of saidconnecting member, and said arm extending into the associated maincontainer, whereby rotation of said pivoted member to bring saidabutment into positionto prevent rotation of said connecting member isprevented by an article at the level of said arm in said main container.

3. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, a pluralityof containers for articles of different kinds, means for selectivelydispensing articles therefrom, a plurality of auxiliary containers foradditional articles and means for delivering an article from one of saidauxiliary containers in a predetermined cyclic order at each operationof any of said dispensing means.

4. In a machine of the class described, and in combination, a pluralityof containers for articles of diflerent kinds, means for selectivelydispenscontainers in a predetermined cyclic order at each operation ofsaid dispensing means, comprising a delivery means associated with eachsaid auxiliary container and actuating means therefor comprising a camwheel, the said cam wheels being fixed on a rotatable shaft in differentangular positions spaced apart by a predetermined angle, and meansconnecting said dispensing means to said shaft for rotating the samethrough said predetermined angle at each operation of any of saiddispensing means.

CHRISTIAN GABRIELSEII.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,25L 1n. September 2, 191g.

CHRISTIAN GABRIELSEN.

It is hereby certified that error: appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,first column, line 1b., after "cigarettes" insert a parenthesis; page 2,first column, line 65, strike Ont "as" same page, second column, line145-141. for "re-reverse read --reserve--; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of October, A. D. 19111,

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents

